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How to Read Numbers

A Guide to Statistics in the News (and Knowing When to Trust Them)
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( 442 ratings, 56 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
How to Read Numbers by Tom Chivers and David Chivers is an engaging guide to understanding statistics in media and everyday life. The book demystifies common statistical pitfalls, helping readers interpret numerical data more accurately. Through various examples, it empowers individuals to critically assess the information presented to them, highlighting the importance of being informed in a data-driven world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're interested in understanding how statistics are presented in today's media and want to make sense of the numbers you encounter daily. It's a great choice for anyone keen to develop better critical thinking skills regarding data and statistics in science and nature contexts.

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How to Read Numbers

A short, practical, timely guide to the tools you need to understand the numbers we read in the news everyday - and how we often get them wrong

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Every day, most of us will read or watch something in the news that is based on statistics in some way. Sometimes it'll be obvious — 'X people develop cancer every year' — and sometimes less obvious — 'How smartphones destroyed a generation'. Statistics are an immensely powerful tool for understanding the world, but in the wrong hands they can be dangerous.

How to Read Numbers introduces you to the common mistakes that journalists make and the tricks they sometimes deploy. This vital guide will help you understand when and how to trust the numbers in the news — and, just as importantly, when not to.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

How to Read Numbers by Tom and David Chivers receives high praise for its engaging, insightful approach to demystifying statistics. Reviewers highlight the book's accessibility, charm, and effectiveness in teaching complex concepts while keeping readers entertained. The authors are commended for their ability to make statistical information clear and understandable, making the book a valuable tool for navigating and interpreting numbers in the media.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781474619974

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 31 March 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 6.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 186g

Pages: 208

About the Author

Tom Chivers is a science writer and author. He was awarded the Royal Statistical Society 'statistical excellence in journalism' award in 2018, and was highly commended for the same prize in 2017; he has also been shortlisted for the Association of British Science Writers award and a British Journalism Award in science writing, and won the American Psychological Society media award, all in 2017. His first book, The AI Does Not Hate You: Superintelligence, Rationality and the Race to Save the World, was declared one of The Times' science books of 2019.

David Chivers is an assistant professor of economics at Durham University. Before this post he was a lecturer at the University of Oxford and completed his PhD at the University of Manchester, funded by the ESRC. He has published in academic journals such as Review of Economic Dynamics, Economic Theory and Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organisation. His research interests involve topics relating to inequality, growth and development.

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